8 Yahoo Boys sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to internet fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has eight Nigerian youths to one year over their involvement in internet fraud.

A statement issued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, said the convicted Internet fraudsters (Yahoo Boys) were arraigned on Tuesday, July 29,  before Justice Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa of the Federal High Court Lafia, Nasarawa State.

They were arraigned on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretences.

” The suspects are Timileyin Jude, Kelvin Godwin, Benedict  Udoh and Israel Ugwu. Others are Friday Onigbe, Ismaila Jemilu, Salifu Mustapha Achema and Paul Attah.

“Godwin’s count reads, ‘That you Kelvin Godwin sometime in the year 2025 at Karu, Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria fraudulently impersonated one Bad Ass Kylie from America by means of your iPhone 14 Pro mobile device via a fake Telegram social media account with intent to gain advantage for yourself from unsuspecting foreign nationals, under the guise of which you benefitted the sum of $200 (Two Hundred States Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”.

“Udoh’s count reads,  ‘That you Benedict Simon Udoh sometime in the year 2025 at Karu Nasarawa state within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently through your iPhone 14 Pro Max fraudulently impersonated  black military man from the United states of America using different social media site Neckter-recovery of Instagram, Wizzytechassit on email and anededepablo on Facebook with intent to obtain money and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b)(iv) of the same Act,” the statement said.

According to the statement,  all the suspects pleaded guilty,  prompting prosecution counsel S.N. Robert to urge the court to convict and sentence them.